Vietnam-US East Coast direct shipment service debuts

Sunday, January 10, 2010 14:39

M.V. OOCL America, the first container ship of the Grand Alliance, docked at Tan Cang-Cai Mep deep-water seaport in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on January 9 before sailing directly to the US East Coast.

The ship, owned by Hong Kong’s carrier OOCL, which is a member of the Grand Alliance, has a tonnage of 66,000 tons.

After M.V. OOCL America, the Grand Alliance will deploy 10 other container ships with a tonnage of 5,500 TEU for this direct service from Vietnam to the US East Coast.

Earlier, the New World and CKYH alliances offered direct services from Vietnam to the US West Coast.

The Tan Cang-Cai Mep port, which has an area of 20.5 hectares, a capacity of 650,000 TEU per year, and a wharf measuring 380 meters long with a sea-depth of 15.8 meters in front of it, can receive vessels with tonnage of 110,000 tons and LOA of 360 meters.

After seven months of operation, the port has hosted 56 ship arrivals with a total cargo of 100,285 TEU.

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